WISN 12 News political reporter Kent Wainscott asked the governor about a security detail that is costing Wisconsin taxpayers millions and a price tag for that protection that has more than tripled while he's been in office.

"What should taxpayers think about that?" Wainscott asked.

"Well, it's one of those where you go with the need. Remember, when I was the Milwaukee County executive I gave up a security detail that Tom Ament had," Walker said.

This campaign stop at a Kenosha manufacturing plant was WISN 12 News' first chance to speak with him since the numbers were released Friday. He was away at the National Governor's Association Conference with his security detail.

The state patrol spent $1.6 million on security for the governor, his family and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch in 2011, $1.9 million in 2012 and $2.2 million last year.

That's more than three times as much as was spent to protect Jim Doyle in his final two years as governor. Former Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton didn't receive any state protection.

Walker defended the costs Monday.

"This was not something that I asked for. I'd prefer if I could walk around without it. But I understand that my role is not just for me personally. I'm acting on behalf of the people of the state of Wisconsin, and if there's a legitimate security concern, it doesn't just affect me or my family, it could negatively affect the people of the state of Wisconsin and the perception of the state," Walker said.

Security was increased after the governor and others received death threats during the Act 10 protests a few years ago.

The governor said the security needs continue and are set for him, his family and Kleefisch by the same law enforcement team that set the security levels for his predecessor, Jim Doyle.

Wainscott also asked Walker about state Senate candidate Van Wanggaard saying the governor told him he's searching for a way to say "yes" to a Kenosha casino.

"Yeah, for us, we think there's a huge incentive in terms of the construction jobs and long-term jobs. The challenge is, and a lot of folks haven't talked about this here and certainly in the media, is because of Jim Doyle, that part of what we have to deal with are compacts that in least three cases, have provisions that I call landmines that would blow things up for the state if a casino was built here," Walker said.

During a campaign stop in Kenosha, the governor said a new Menominee casino could trigger the loss of payments from other tribes to the state. Walker said he's searching for a solution that would be a win for all parties.

DID NOT STOP HIM. THEY CHARGE THE OFFICER WITH A WEAPON AND THEY THEN SHOT. THE MAN DIED AT THE HOSPITAL. YOU GO WHERE THE SECURITY NEEDS ARE. THAT IS THE GOVERNOR'S TAKE ON NEWLY RELEASED NUMBERS SHOWING SKYROCKETING SECURITY COST FOR HIM ON THE FIRST LADY, AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. WE ASKED ABOUT HER SECURITY DETAIL THAT IS COSTING WISCONSIN TAXPAYERS MILLION AND A PRICE TAG FOR THAT PROTECTION THAT HAS MORE THAN TRIPLED SINCE HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE. IT'S ONE OF THOSE WHERE -- WHEN I WAS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IKE GAVE UP A SECURITY DETAIL. THIS WAS OUR FIRST CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH THE GOVERNOR SINCE THOSE NUMBERS WERE RELEASED ON FRIDAY. HERE IS THE BREAKDOWN OF THOSE SECURITY COSTS FOR THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY. THE PATROL SPENT $1.6 MILLION ON SECURITY AND 2011. ONE POINT $9 MILLION IN 2012, AND $2.2 MILLION LAST YEAR, MORE THAN THREE TIMES AS MUCH AS WAS SPENT TO PROTECT JIM DOYLE IN HIS FINAL TWO YEARS AS GOVERNOR. GOVERNOR WALKER DEFENDED THOSE COST TODAY. THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING I ASKED FOR. I WOULD PREFER IF I COULD WALK AROUND WITHOUT IT, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR ROLE IS NOT JUST FOR ME PERSONALLY. I'M ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN , AND THERE IS A LEGITIMATE SECURITY CONCERNS. IT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT ME AND MY FAMILY. IT COULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND THE PERCEPTION OF THE STATE. THE GOVERNOR AND OTHERS RECEIVED DEATH THREATS A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE SECURITY